Women's March in Southern Utah: Community gathers to support women's rights

Members of the community participate in the Women's March in St. George on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019.(Photo: Chris Caldwell / The Spectrum & Daily News)

Hundreds of Southern Utah residents gathered in downtown St. George on Saturday afternoon for this year's Women's March to celebrate women's rights and empowerment.

Participants began their hourlong march at Vernon Worthen Park and made their way north onto St. George Boulevard.

St. George Mayor Jon Pike and Hildale City Mayor Donia Jessop joined the marchers, along with other notable area residents.

Pike explained that it's important for him, both as an elected official and community member, to support everyone in the community.

"We need to be kind and civil," he said. "If you don't come out to these things, you're missing out. It's so fun for me to come and meet people. I hope that maybe me being here might help others feel like it's OK."

Empowering youth

When Pike addressed the crowd during his speech, he explained how he and his wife were concerned years ago when their daughter expressed her desire to one day become a doctor but said she felt like she couldn't because she was a girl.

Empowering youth to understand equal rights is a reason why St. George resident Jaclyn Pace said she wanted to participate in the march. She brought her 2-year-old son and 7-year-old niece to the event.

"I think it's important to get kids involved," Pace said. "They are our future. I think it's really needed especially somewhere like in Southern Utah where it seems like there's more suppression of women in general."

As a teacher, Pace said, she also recognizes the need for women's empowerment in education and equality in things like receiving grants and accolades and participating in fields that are traditionally male-dominated.

Hildale mayor shares experiences

Jessop, the keynote speaker, told the audience she is no stranger to male-dominated workplaces. As the first mayor of Hildale, Jessop said she experienced self-doubt, backlash and was even spat upon for running for office.

Jessop was raised in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and she and her husband left the church around six years ago. They returned a couple of years later to "build and repair the broken city."

"I was taught at a young age I could be anything I wanted," Jessop said. "I was lucky. I was taught if something was wrong, I had to stand up and fix it."

When she walked into Hildale City Hall as mayor for the first time, Jessop said the city manager asked what she was doing there. They originally planned her office to be in a storage room in the back of the building, but Jessop had other plans.

"Nobody puts Baby in the corner," she said, garnering applause from the audience with the reference to "Dirty Dancing." "I said, 'I'll take the middle office, in the center of the building, that the previous mayor had.' Within a month, half of my office staff walked out. They would not serve underneath a woman. They have since been completely replaced, and I have the best team a mayor could ask for."

Not all marchers support event

Though the majority of the Women's March participants were in support of the event, there was a group of individuals who expressed their discontent with the gathering.

St. George resident Shannon Emery said she opposes the Women's March because it does not represent her.

"I'm tired of all the news media, and everything you hear is that these people are representing all women," Emery said. "Well, they aren't representing me. In fact, in a lot of Women's Marches, they won't even let groups that I agree with march with them because they disagree with their stance."

Kevin Allen, a march participant and St. George resident, said he feels as though people's rights are often brushed aside because he feels everyone simply wants things for themselves.

"I'm here to support my wife, my sisters, my mother and all the other women in my life because they need the respect they deserve," Allen said.

Posted!

A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.

Shawnee Wills of Indianapolis, yells during a speech at the Women's March, Indianapolis, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. She is covered with plastic during freezing rain that turned into sleet during the event drawing a couple of hundred people. Robert Scheer, The Indianapolis Star via USA TODAY Network

Shelly Fitzgerald, a Roncalli High School counsellor who had been placed on administrative leave, speaks during the Women's March, Indianapolis, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Robert Scheer, The Indianapolis Star via USA TODAY Network

Marchers gather for the 2019 Women's March on Jan. 19, 2019 in Washington. The 2017 Women's March was organized to protest the first full day of President Donald Trump's term in office and at hundreds of other events in all 50 states. Jack Gruber, USA TODAY

People take part in the annual Women's March on Jan. 19, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Demonstrations are slated to take place in cities across the country in the third annual event aimed to highlight social change and celebrate women's rights around the world. Barbara Davidson, Getty Images

Demonstrators gather beneath the Chief John Ross Bridge during the Chattanooga Women's March on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Multiple demonstrators were arrested during the march after walking in Market Street and ignoring police orders to move to the sidewalk. Doug Strickland, Chattanooga Times Free Press via AP

An overall look as close to 500 people listen to a variety of speakers during the Women's March and rally inside the Ford Rotunda inside the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press via USA TODAY Network

Rep. Rashida Tlaib acknowledges the applause from the crowd of 500 people gathered for the Women's March and rally inside the Ford Rotunda inside the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press via USA TODAY Network

Protestors shout slogans during the Third Annual Women's March LA in downtown Los Angeles, California on Jan. 19, 2019. Thousands of women gathered across the United States for their annual message opposing Donald Trump and supporting women's rights. Robyn Beck, AFP/Getty Images

Protesters take part in 2019 Women's March in Central London, Britain on Jan. 19, 2019. Thousands of protesters called for greater protection and rights for women and end of austerity in Britain. Will Oliver, EPA-EFE

A woman holds a sign reading 'I'm not ovary acting' during the 2019 Wome's March in Berlin, Germany on Jan. 19, 2019. The march is to support women's rights, against racism and violence against women. Markus Heine, EPA-EFE

A vendor sells buttons during the 2019 Women's March on Jan. 19, 2019 in Washington, DC. Demonstrations are slated to take place in cities across the country in the third annual event aimed to highlight social change and celebrate women's rights around the world. Zach Gibson, Getty Images

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., speaks during the Women's March Alliance, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in New York. One procession, a march through midtown Manhattan, is being organized by the Women's March Alliance, a nonprofit group whose leaders are putting on their demonstration for the third straight year. Another event, a downtown Manhattan rally held at roughly the same time Saturday, is being organized by the New York City chapter of Women's March Inc., the group formed to help organize the 2017 demonstration in Washington, D.C. Mary Altaffer, AP

A group of marchers walk on State Street to join a rally during the Women's March Wisconsin Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019 at the Capitol in Madison, Wis.The event is one of hundreds happening nationwide commemorating the 2017 Women's March, the largest single-day protest in U.S. history.
Mark Hoffman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via USA TODAY Network

People attend the Women's March 2019 protest for more women's rights on Jan. 19, 2019 in Berlin, Germany. Organized by Democrats Abroad, the event coincides with Women's Marches taking place today across the USA. Carsten Koall, Getty Images

Marchers during the 2019 Women's March on Jan. 19, 2019 in Washington. The 2017 Women's March was organized to protest the first full day of President Donald Trump's term in office and at hundreds of other events in all 50 states. Jack Gruber, USA TODAY

Marchers gather for the 2019 Women's March on Jan. 19, 2019 in Washington. The 2017 Women's March was organized to protest the first full day of President Donald Trump's term in office and at hundreds of other events in all 50 states. Jack Gruber, USA TODAY

Battling internal power struggles, including accusations of anti-Semitism, the Women's March that roared onto the political scene following the election of Donald Trump as president is hitting the streets of Washington Saturday, joined by "sister marches" in hundreds of other U.S. cities . Jack Gruber, USA TODAY

Pike said he hopes those who oppose the Women's March can understand the importance of coming together as a community.

"There are some who say, 'Don't go to that,' or 'What do they stand for?' " Pike said. "I say, 'Come on, relax.' This is meant to be positive. This is meant to be engaging. It's meant to be a celebration. I'm all about that. Sometimes you do have to protest and push, and there is still more pushing and prodding to do, but to me, this is a great day and great group of people. There is a lot of happiness and good things happening."

"I get energized at these marches," Pace said. "I don't get angry."

Follow reporter Emily Havens on Twitter, @EmilyJHavens, and find her on Facebook at facebook.com/emilyjhavens. Call her at 435-674-6214 or email her at ehavens@thespectrum.com.